Human Stories with Jill Hazard Rowe

Jenni Gracesun shares her reflections of growing up in a family where the Mormon religion is more important than love. Through her determination, she learned to listen to her body and appreciate her sexual orientation. Through self love, Jenni has created three power phrases - “I am safe”, “I am worthy”, and “I am aware” - that help her receive peace and joy. She is married to Bree and lives in Draper Utah with their 3 children and two doodles. She enjoys hiking in corner canyon and doing yoga at the Draper Rec Center.

In this amazing comeback episode, Jill sits down with Laurie Lee Hall, a transgender woman, who goes through her experience with gender dysmorphia and how that has created conflict within the confines of faith and the LDS chruch.

Benji Schwimmer, dancer, choreographer, and artist, shares his ongoing story of discovering self love and authenticity. Benji graciously and vulnerably shares his experience as a gay man navigating the world and membership in the LDS church.

Mandi graciously shares her coming out story and her journey through a mixed-orientation marriage, motherhood, and finding her own pleasure.

Join us for a heartfelt discussion about healing, authenticity, and pursuing passion. Maxwell, nominated Teacher of the Year 2023, shares his coming out journey this week.

Mary Anna Southey is with Jill to dedicate a special episode to her dad, Trevor Southey. Trevor Southey came out as an older adult and was a beloved artist, friend, parent, and mentor. Tune in to hear Mary Anna share memories of her father.

Bright Spark Film:
https://www.brightsparkfilm.com/

Join Jill as Stacie Gibbons tenderly and honestly shares her life experiences and coming out journey. Stacie describes her experience in the Mormon church and marriage, and how her perspective shifted as she came out as bisexual, then lesbian. At the end, enjoy a piano composition from Stacie entitled "Finding Myself."

Welcome Kristen Mitchell! Kristen Mitchell BSW, MNPA, is the executive director of Youth Futures, a nonprofit that serves runaway and homeless youth ages 12-22. As an entrepreneur who has independently owned and operated her own businesses for 25 years including a manufacturing company, an art gallery and a nonprofit crisis hotline prior to co-founding Youth Futures, she has a passion for youth services and has been involved with human service-oriented agencies for over 31 years; working in group homes, respite services and volunteer service projects, including those that
served people experiencing homelessness and LGBTQ youth.
https://www.youthfuturesutah.org/

This week, Jared Oaks, Ballet West Music Director, shares his coming out journey. Jared has also shared a composition which you will hear at the end of the episode. From Jared:
A Place of Mirrors
III. White Horses of the Shamans
Rebecca Moench, violin
Jared Oaks, piano
The music for my short ballet, A Place of Mirrors is inspired by shamanic tradition, traditional shamanic mirrors, and the idea of reflection.
This final movement, “White Horses of the Shamans,” is inspired by Walther Heissig’s 1944 account of a female shaman, who indicated that the mirrors are a vehicle for the shamans.
The music is somewhat unified by use of a tone row consisting of 10 pitches, which are played in various ways, such as retrograde, inversion, etc.
These ideas came about as a result of my friendship and discussions with dancer and choreographer David Arce. The piece was commissioned by Debra Pearse Rogo, director of Mid-Columbia Ballet.